A book about Big Flame
Update as of February 2014.
Some ex members to work on a book provisionally titled Big Flame: Re-appraising radical politics
Three of us are jointly editing the book, and about another dozen others helping in various ways (including writing sections).
The book aims:
1. To present the history – or, more accurately, histories – of Big Flame, its theory, principles and practice. For this reason, while the book is authored, it includes dozens of contributions from ex-members of Big Flame, and the authors do not intend to paper over the many cracks in the organisation. There are many different perspectives then for understanding Big Flame and its relevance for today. By including many of them in this book, with contributions of very different lengths and in different styles from the more personal to the more analytic, we aim to convey something of this diversity.
2. To reappraise its politics and impact, and to review its contribution to the British Left as well to the lives of some of its members. While the authors are well disposed to their history in Big Flame, this book is not a panegyric: it recognises BF’s failures as well as its contributions.
3. To apply its politics and practice to certain contemporary political situations and struggles – and, thus, whilst the book does draw on histories, it looks forwards. The book intends to be of value to activists within the new social movements struggling against capitalist globalisation today.
The current structure is:
Introduction
Ch 1:Capitalism under threat?: the context in which Big Flame emerged
Ch 2: What was Big Flame?
Ch 3:New theory, new practice
Ch 4:Intervention after Intervention: what BF did
Ch 5: Women’s politics in Big Flame
Ch 6: Assessing Big Flame (including the relevance of its politics for today)
Conclusion
John Tummon said
Sorry I never carried out the promised interviews with ex-BF cdes in Manchester. I am now the Secretary of the newly-formed Stockport branch of Left Unity. LU has 1,700 members so far and one or two ex-BF people are involved. If there is anything else you would like to ask me to do, I will try not to dissapoint once again.
John
Keith Venables said
Surely John, the best unity on the Left is within the Labour Party with Corbyn as leader. We are not followers in LP, we are activists.
Keith Venables
John Tummon said
Keith, we are 3 years on from that. My current email address is john18911937@gmail.com. I left LU 2 years ago, am in the Labour Party and the Republican Socialist Alliance. Do keep in touch!!!!